The Hindu : National : Sukh Ram merges party with Congress

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 13, 2004

National

National

Sukh Ram merges party with Congress

By Our Special Correspondent

The former Union Minister, Sukh Ram, who rejoined the Congress, with the party's spokesperson, Kapil Sibal, at the AICC headquarters, in New Delhi on Monday. — Photo: S. Arneja

NEW DELHI, APRIL 12. The former Union Minister, Sukh Ram, today rejoined the Congress after announcing the merger of his Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC) with it.

Mr. Sukh Ram, who was the Communications Minister in the last Congress Government at the Centre, was shown the door after the Central Bureau of Investigation allegedly recovered Rs. 3 crores from his official residence and subsequently filed cases, including two for allegedly committing irregularities in awarding a telecom contract.

Later, Mr. Sukh Ram floated the HVC, and joined hands with the National Democratic Alliance. He also served as a Minister in the previous P.K. Dhumal-led BJP Government.

The Congress spokesperson, Kapil Sibal, said here today it only proved that slowly National Democratic Alliance partners were leaving the coalition. After the exit of the DMK, the MDMK, and the PMK, and the rate at which parties were leaving the coalition, the NDA would soon turn into ``non-existent'' Democratic Alliance.

Mr. Sukh Ram said that the HVC merger was ``unconditional''. He said that in view of his indifferent health he was unable to stand the rigours of contesting from the constituency, which is the second largest in terms of its spread.

The Congress had earlier announced the candidature of Pratibha Singh, wife of the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh, once a staunch political rival of Mr. Sukh Ram. However, this time round, it is understood that the two senior leaders have sorted out their differences.

Mr. Sukh Ram announced that he had vowed not to hold any public office till he got acquitted in the cases filed against him. He promised to campaign for the Congress along with the Chief Minister and other senior leaders as an ``ordinary'' worker.

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